Lee Konitz

American jazz saxophonist and composer (born October 13, 1927, Chicago, Illinois, USA; died April 15, 2020, Lenox Hill Hospital, Greenwich Village, New York City).
Inspired by Benny Goodman, Konitz began playing the clarinet aged 11 and studied with a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, switching to the tenor saxophone in 1942, then finally the alto. Began performing professionally with Jerry Wald in 1945, with Claude Thornhill from 1947, but his most significant association was with pianist Lennie Tristano, whom he first met and worked with in 1946. He recorded with a nonet in 1949-50 (later collected as the Miles Davis "Birth of the Cool" album). Formed an association with another Tristano acolyte, Warne Marsh, during the 1950s.
Received Denmark's Jazzpar prize in 1992. Died from the the effects of the coronavirus and pneumonia.